U.S. President Donald Trump has ramped up military and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela, which British analysts suggest might be a strategy with a broader target: the Cuban regime that props up Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
David Blair, a journalist for the British newspaper The Telegraph, argues that the Trump administration could be concentrating military forces in the Caribbean with the ultimate goal of "forcing a regime change in Havana," reminiscent of Cold War-era operations.
"The final target might not be Caracas, but Havana," Blair asserted, likening the current offensive to the historic Operation Mongoose, a U.S.-led effort in the 1960s to overthrow Fidel Castro.
Breaking the Caracas-Havana Axis
The White House believes that Maduro's government remains afloat primarily due to Cuban support, particularly through military and intelligence advisors sent from Havana to Caracas.
Sources close to the State Department, influenced by Marco Rubio, have informed the British media that the current strategy aims to "break the Caracas-Havana axis," undermining the financial and political influence of Raúl Castro and Cuba's military conglomerate, GAESA, which controls much of the island's economy.
Growing Tensions in the Caribbean
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating in the region. International reports highlight U.S. naval maneuvers near the Venezuelan coast, potentially marking the largest show of force in the Caribbean in over a decade.
Although Washington's official rhetoric focuses on defending Venezuelan democracy, international observers agree that the ultimate goal is to hasten the collapse of the Cuban regime, which Trump views as "the root of instability in Latin America." A senior U.S. official recently stated anonymously, "If Maduro falls, Díaz-Canel will be next."
In contrast, the Cuban government has remained silent while the public continues to endure blackouts, shortages, and repression under a system increasingly reliant on Venezuelan oil and internal suppression to stay in power.
U.S. Strategy and Its Impact on Cuba and Venezuela
What is the primary goal of the Trump administration regarding Cuba and Venezuela?
The primary goal is believed to be forcing a regime change in Havana by breaking the support Cuba provides to the Venezuelan government under Nicolás Maduro.
How does the U.S. plan to achieve its objectives in the Caribbean?
The U.S. is reportedly concentrating military forces in the Caribbean and employing diplomatic pressure to undermine Cuban influence, aiming to weaken the Caracas-Havana axis.
What historical operation is the current U.S. strategy compared to?
The current strategy is compared to Operation Mongoose, a 1960s U.S.-led effort to overthrow Fidel Castro during the Cold War.